Living. Learning. Sharing

Shortly after finding out that I was pregnant with my son, I did something that I said I would never do. I looked into daycare costs. At the time, I lived over 2,000 miles from family and I had no other income to rely on. Despite the fact that I had always pictured myself as a stay-at-home mom, I had to work.

Looking at daycare, even if it was in the home of a loving Tutu, and imagining myself working long hours, spending limited time with my baby was heartbreaking. It wasn’t something I wanted to do but I didn’t feel that I had any other choice.

I had to support myself and my baby.

When my parents offered for me to move back to California and live with them rent free, I accepted for one reason and one reason only – I wanted to be home with my son. I didn’t do it for the financial help, I did it so that I could be the one to take care of my son.

My goal was to stay home for my son’s first year, at least.

I never would have imagined that so many people would take issue with this. I am consistently met with questions of why I don’t want to work or some other less polite variation of the question.

Are you kidding me?!? I would love to work! I love to work. (Yes, yes, being a stay-at-home mom is most certainly “work” but I am using the word in the way in which people mean it, in exchange for monetary pay.) I miss going to a job, being recognized for my hard work and I miss getting paid!

Trust me, I don’t stay home with my son because I don’t want to work.

It’s not because I’m lazy or lack structure, either (also, things I’ve been told).

I am a stay-at-home mom because I’ve never met a mom with adult children who says she wishes she had worked more.

I am a stay-at-home mom because time goes by so fast.

I am a stay-at-home mom because his hugs, kisses and smiles are better than any paycheck I’ve ever gotten.

I am a stay-at-home mom because I recognize that it is a gift that not every mother has been given.

20 thoughts on “This is Why I am a Stay-At-Home Mom”

I received some similar comments when I decided to stay home. But with three that would need daycare, it didn’t make sense for me to work. But no one ever said at the end of their life “I wish I had spent less time with my kids”.

I love this. I am a stay at home mom too. And although I am sure I will go back to work one day I am loving time with my babies now. They grow sooooo fast and I don’t want to miss it if I don’t have to!

Yeah, the time really does go by fast. And I know so many women that were stay at home moms and now have careers again. It’s just a season. And I’m enjoying it (almost) every minute. Thanks for stopping by, Theresa. 🙂

Yes! I stay home with my two as well, although in Canada MAT leave is for the first year so it is not uncommon, most of my friends stayed home until baby was 1.5-2 years though. It is not an easy job and very little recognition but it is totally worth it to be able to see your little ones learn and develop so quickly.

No, I haven’t linked up. I need to be better at link ups. (Sigh) Also, I LOVE that Canada’s maternity leave is a year. I think that is SO awesome! I’m fortunate that I’m able to stay home but I feel so awful for moms in the U.S. that have to go back as early as 6 weeks. I can’t even leave my 10 month old for more than a few hours! So sad.